Prescription drug use during pregnancy in Southern Tigray region, North Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundJudicious utilization of drugs rescues the fetus from the harmful effects while treating the health problems of the pregnant women. This study aimed at evaluating drug utilization pattern and its associated factors among pregnant women in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia.MethodInstitution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 647 pregnant women who had been attending obstetrics-gynecology and antenatal care units in different health facilities of Southern Tigray region. The study participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data collection was done using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires and by reviewing antenatal follow-up cards. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed, to assess drug utilization pattern and its associated factors among pregnant women, using SPSS version 20 software.ResultsOf 647 pregnant women, 87.5% were prescribed with at least one medication. As per the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) risk classification system, 87.7, 7.9, 3.9, and 0.5% of the prescribed drug were from category A, B, C and D, respectively. Prescription drug use was more likely among gynecology ward visitors [AOR = 8.97, 95% Cl (2.69–29.88)] and among those who visited health facilities for the first time during their first [AOR =2.65, 95% Cl (1.44–4.84)] and second [AOR = 2.50, 95% Cl (1.36–4.61)] trimesters.ConclusionMajority of the study population used safe and appropriate medications according to US-FDA risk classification system, with the exception of low proportion (0.5%) of medication with potential risk for the fetus. The average number of drug prescribed per pregnant women was in the recommended range of WHO drug use indicators guideline.

Drug utilization pattern among pregnant women attending maternal and child health clinic of tertiary hospital in eastern Ethiopia: Consideration of toxicological perspectives

“…This finding was in line with a study conducted in northern Ethiopia [8] where high number of drugs was used from this category. However, this finding had shown a gap from the study conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil [28] and Fiche hospital, Ethiopia [29] in which only 20.55% and 20.83%, respectively, were from category A.…”

“…In this study, 8.75% of drugs used were from FDA category B. This finding was in line with the study conducted in northern Ethiopia (7.9%) [8]. Higher prevalence of drug use was reported from studies conducted in Jimma [10] and western Nepal [31] where 48.7% and 60.2% of drugs were prescribed from FDA category B.…”

“…In this study, the prevalence of drug use during pregnancy was found to be 85.1%. This value was comparable with the study conducted in northern Ethiopia [8] and Bahirdar city [12] where the prevalence of drug use during pregnancy was found to be 87.5% and 88.4%, respectively. With reference to this finding, lower and higher drug utilization were also reported in studies conducted at Ayder referral hospital, Mekele (62.2%) [16] and Nekemte town (96%) [17], respectively.…”

“…The sample size determination was performed according to single population proportion formula as shown hereunderwhere, p = prevalence/proportion of drug use during pregnancy, 87.5% [8], d = margin of error which is 3%, z = confidence level at 95% = 1.96. The size of study population per year (the total number of pregnant women who had follow up during the review period) was found to be 1410 (< 10,000).…”

“…Most of them have reported the utilization of large number of drugs during pregnancy with substantial number of drugs from category D and X of Food and Drug administration (FDA) pregnancy risk categories [8]. Although it seems rare, previous studies demonstrated that the use of drugs from FDA pregnancy risk category X had been observed during pregnancy [9–12].…”